Methodology
• In January/February 2012, Edison Research and Arbitron conducted a national telephone survey offered in both English and Spanish language (landline and mobile phone) of 2,020 people aged 12 and over
• Data were weighted to national 12+ population figures • This is the 20th study in this series, dating to 1998
24
34
48 52
56
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
% Who Currently Have a Personal Profile Page Any Social Networking Website
Over Half of Americans Have a Profile on a Social Networking Site
Gender Composition
Social Networkers Lean Slightly More Female Than Population
Male 49%
Female 51%
Male 46%
Female 54%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networkers
Age Composition
Over Half of Social Networking Users Are 12-34
Age 12-24 21%
Age 25-34 16%
Age 35-44 15%
Age 45-54 17%
Age 55+ 31%
Age 12-24 32%
Age 25-34 20% Age 35-44
17%
Age 45-54 16%
Age 55+ 15%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networkers
“Have you ever heard of the social networking website named…”
Awareness of Leading Social Networking Sites is Ubiquitous
39
45
85
90
93
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Google+
MySpace
% saying “yes”
“Do you currently ever use/have your own profile page on…”
Facebook Is the Dominant Social Network
8
10
13
54
56
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Google+
Any Social Network
% saying “yes”
% by Age Group Who Currently Have a Personal Profile Page on Any Social Networking Website
Year-Over-Year Growth in Social Networking Greatest Among People Age 45 and Older
76 80 68 63
45
31
15
81 80 68 65
55
34 23
12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
2011 2012
Age Demographics of Popular Social Networking Sites
80 81
66 62
50
32 23
17 20
9 8 6 1 1 1
12 18 23
17 10
3
12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
% by Age Group Who Currently Use/Have a Personal Profile Page On…
“What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?”
Education Levels of Social Networkers Similar to That of General Population
High School or Less
33%
1-3 Years College
30%
4 Year College 19%
Some Graduate Credits
5% Advanced
Degree 13%
High School or Less
26%
1-3 Years College
34% 4 Year College
20%
Some Graduate Credits
5%
Advanced Degree
15%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networking Users
% of Social Networkers, By Platform, with At Least a 4-Year College Degree
LinkedIn Users Nearly Twice as Likely as General Population to Have at Least a 4-Year Degree
37
41
50
71
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Total 12+
“How often do you use social networking Web sites or services?”
Nearly Two-Thirds Of Social Networkers Use Social Sites Daily
Several Times per Day 22%
Nearly Every Day 15%
At Least Once a Week 12%
At Least Once per Month
5%
Less Often Than Once per Month
5%
Never Use 41%
5 7
15 18
22
0
5
10
15
20
25
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Approx. 18 Million
Approx. 39 Million
Approx. 46 Million
Approx. 58 Million
% Who Use Social Networking Sites/Services “Several Times Per Day”
Approximately 58 Million Americans Have “The Social Habit”
Approx. 12 Million
“Do you currently have a profile page on Facebook?”
An Estimated 143 Million Americans Have a Facebook Profile
8
18
41
51
54
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
% saying “yes”
“How long have you been on Facebook?”
Nearly One-Third of Facebook Users Have Been Members For at Least Three Years
Less than 6 months
6%
6 months to less than 1 year
13%
1 year to less than 2 years
24%
2 years to less than 3 years
26% 3 years to less than 5 years
21%
5 years or more 10%
Base: Have a personal profile page on Facebook
25 27
14 12 15
8
None Once Twice 3 to 4 times 5 to 10 times 11+ times
MEAN: 4.0 Times
“In the last 24 hours, approximately how many times did you check your Facebook account?”
Nearly One-Quarter of Facebook Users Check Their Account At Least Five Times Daily
Base: Have a personal profile page on Facebook
262
396 429
273 220
163 96 71
P12+ 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Average Number of Facebook Friends by Age Group
Young Facebook Users Have Lots of Friends
Base: Have a personal profile page on Facebook
% Who Access Facebook On a…
More Than Half of Facebook Users Access the Site Via Phone
19
54
92
Tablet
Cell Phone
Desktop/Laptop computer
Base: Have a personal profile page on Facebook
“Which way do you access Facebook most?”
One in Three Facebook Users Access the Service Most Via Phone
Tablet 4%
Cell Phone 33%
Desktop/Laptop Computer
63%
Base: Have a personal profile page on Facebook
“How do you feel about the privacy of your personal information on Facebook?
Concerns Over Facebook Privacy Rise
33
22
23
21
24
20
29
27
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Not at All Concerned
Slightly Concerned
Somewhat Concerned
Very Concerned 2012
2011
Base: Have a personal profile page on Facebook
“Do you currently ever use Twitter?”
An Estimated 26 Million Americans Use Twitter
7
8
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
2010
2011
2012
% saying “yes”
“How long have you been a Twitter user?”
Twitter Continuing To Draw New Users
Less than 6 months
23% 6 months to less than 1 year
30%
1 year to less than 2 years
25%
2 years to less than 3 years
10%
3 years to less than 5 years
9%
5 years or more 3%
Base: Currently ever use Twitter
“How often do you use Twitter?”
Four in Ten Twitter Users Access the Service Nearly Every Day or More
Several times per day
29%
Nearly every day 12%
At least once per week
23%
At least once per month
16%
Less often than once per month
20%
Base: Currently Ever Use Twitter
18 18
29
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2010 2011 2012
% of Twitter Users Who Use the Service “Several Times Per Day”
The “Twitter Habit” Grows Sharply
“Do you ever post status updates to “Twitter?”
Twitter Users Becoming More Engaged
47
69
76
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
2010
2011
2012
% saying “yes”
Base Use Twitter at least once per month
“How often do you hear about Twitter feeds, commonly called tweets, through media such as TV, radio, newspapers, or websites other than Twitter?”
More Than Four in Ten Americans Hear or Read About Tweets Almost Every Day in the Media
Almost Every Day 43%
Regularly, but not Daily
16%
Sometimes 13% Rarely
8%
Never 9%
Have Not Heard of Twitter
11%
Base: Total Population 12+
“When it comes to political matters, do you usually think of yourself as a…?”
Twitter Users Lean Towards The Democratic Party
Democrat 30%
Republican 23%
Independent 23%
Other 13%
Refused/NA 11% Democrat
40%
Republican 22%
Independent 23%
Other 9%
Refused/NA 6%
U.S. Population 12+ Monthly Twitter Users
“Do you ever post status updates to any social networking websites or services?”
One-Third of Social Networking Users Are “Silent”
No 34%
Yes 66%
Base: Users of Social Networking Sites/Services
“About how often do you go to the social networking website to update your status?”
One-Third of Status Updaters Post Updates Using the Service’s Website Nearly Every Day or More
Several Times Per Day
16%
Nearly Every Day 18%
At Least Once per Week
35%
At Least Once per Month
17%
Less Often than Once per Month
10%
Never Update Status This Way
4%
Base: Post Status on Social Networks
“About how often do you update your status on social networks with dedicated software on your computer-that is, not through a web browser?”
Three-Quarters of Status Updaters Do Not Use Client Software to Update Their Status on Social Networks
Several Times Per Day 4%
Nearly Every Day 5%
At Least Once per Week
6%
At Least Once per Month
5%
Less Often than Once per Month
6% Never Update
Status This Way 74%
Base: Post Status on Social Networks
“About how often do you update your status on social networks by cell phone?”
One-Quarter of Status Updaters Use Their Phones to Update Their Status at Least Daily
Several Times Per Day
15%
Nearly Every Day 11%
At Least Once per Week
22%
At Least Once per Month
12%
Less Often than Once per Month
9% Never Update Status This Way
31% Base: Post Status on Social Networks
% of Social Networkers Who Own a Smartphone
The Majority of Social Networkers Own a Smartphone
Smartphone Owner
61%
Does Not Own Smartphone
39%
“Do you currently own…”
More Social Networkers Own Mobile Devices Than Average
7
12
14
17
22
31
10
16
18
24
32
44
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Android-based Tablet
Apple iPad
Portable Hand-Held Book Readers
Apple iPhone
Android Cell Phone
Apple iPod
Social Networkers
U.S. Population 12+
% owning each item
“How often do you use social networking sites on your cell phone?”
More Than Four In Ten Mobile Social Users Access Their Sites Via Phone At Least Once a Day
Several Times per Day 31% About Once per
Day 11%
At Least Once a Week 10%
A Few Times a Month or Less
8%
Never 40%
Base: Social Networking Users Who Own Mobile Phones
“In general, when not in person, which ONE of the following ways do you communicate with your friends and family MOST often?”
Mobile Status Updaters Prefer Communicating by Typing Over Talking
2
6
6
21
64
1
16
3
45
36
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Other
Text Message
Talk On Phone
Mobile Status UpdatersTotal 12+
“Are you familiar with social networking services that allow you to post a status update and your current location, such as FourSquare or Gowalla?”
One in Four Americans 12+ Familiar with “Check-In” Services
Yes 26%
No 74%
% Who Have Ever Used a “Check-In” Service to Post a Status Update That Also Provided Location?
“Check-In” Behavior Stalls
1
4
3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
2010
2011
2012
% saying “yes”
Base Total Population 12+
“How often do you check in to location-based services such as Foursquare or Gowalla?
“Check-In” Frequency Wanes
18
42
39
18
24
57
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Almost Every Time I Go Out
Sometimes
Almost Never
2012
2011
Base: Ever used online service to post status update with location
“In the last month, have you watched TV by streaming or downloading shows to be viewed on…”
Social Networkers Are Watching TV in Non-Traditional Ways
6
6
13
20
11
14
27
47
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
A Tablet
A Cell Phone
Your Television
Your Desktop or Laptop Computer
Social Networkers
U.S. Population 12+
% saying “yes”
“Have you watched video clips or other Internet video programming from YouTube in the last week?”
Social Networkers Are Heavy YouTube Users
Yes 37%
No 63%
Yes 55%
No 45%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networkers
“Have you shared a YouTube video with anyone in the last month?”
Nearly Half of Social Networkers Share YouTube Videos
Yes 47%
No 53%
Base: Social Networkers Who Have Watched Video Clips or Other Internet Video Programming from YouTube in the Last Month
% Owning DVR
Over Half of Social Networkers Own a DVR
Yes 45%
No 55%
Yes 53%
No 47%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networkers
“Thinking about all of the times you watch TV, how often do you watch time-shifted programming recorded from your DVR?”
Social Networkers With DVRs Frequently Time-Shift Programming
Nearly All The Times I Watch TV
36%
Not All The Times, But At Least Half
27% Less Than Half The
Times 18%
Rarely 13%
Never 7%
Base: Social Networkers Who Own DVRs
“How often do you fast forward or skip through commercials when you watch time shifted programming recorded from your DVR
More Than 9 in 10 Social Networkers Who Often Watch Time-Shifted TV Frequently Skip Ads
Almost Every Time
Commercials Come On
83%
Most Of The Times
8% Some Of The
Times 6%
Usually Watch The Commercials
3%
Base: Social Networkers Who Watch Time-Shifted Programming At Least Half The Times They Watch TV
“Are you a registered user of any ‘daily deals’ services such as Groupon or Living Social?”
Nearly One-Quarter of Social Networkers Use “Daily Deals” Sites and Services
Yes 14%
No 86%
Yes 23%
No 77%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networkers
“Are you a subscriber to the service from Amazon.com called Amazon Prime?”
One in Ten Social Networking Users Have Access To Amazon Prime
Yes 7%
No 93%
Yes 11%
No 89%
U.S. Population 12+ Social Networkers
Brand-Following Behavior Doubles Over the Past Two Years
16
25
33
0 10 20 30 40 50
2010
2011
2012
“Do you follow any companies or brands on any social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter?”
Base: Users of Social Networking Sites/Services
% saying “yes”
“Which ONE social networking site or service do you use MOST to connect with brands or products?”
Facebook Is The Dominant Platform For Brand-Following Behavior
Facebook 79%
Twitter 9%
Other 7%
None 4%
DK/NA 1%
Base: Follow Brands/Companies on Any Social Network
“Which ONE social networking site or service influences your buying decisions the most?”
Consumers Are More Conscious of Facebook’s Impact on Buying Decisions
1
3
5
68
24
5
6
6
36
47
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Other
Don't Know
None
2012
2011
Base: Use any social networking site/service at least once/month
“Think about the companies, brands, products and services you enjoy following on social networking sites. What is the first ONE that comes to mind?”
Consumers Recall a Wide Variety of Brands/Products on the Social Web; No One Brand Dominates
Brand Number of Mentions
Nike 9
Walmart 6
Apple 5
Starbucks 5
Levi’s 4
Coke 3
NFL 3
Pampers 3 * Total number of responses=332
“Why do you enjoy following [first recalled brand] in particular?”
Sales/Discounts Most Commonly-Cited Reason For Following Brands or Products
Reason Number of Mentions*
Sales/Discounts/Coupons 56 Don't Know 47 Like The Product 45 Content/Ideas 43 Keep Informed On New Products 35 Favorable Opinion of Company 29 News/Information 28 Humorous/Entertaining 18 Work There 18 Current Customer 17 Other 16
* Total number of responses=332